Citizens’ support for the energy transition. The influence of policy and politics on citizens’ opinions towards renewable energy promotion

Dermont, Clau
(2018).
Citizens’ support for the energy transition. The influence of policy and politics on citizens’ opinions towards renewable energy promotion.
(Dissertation, University of Bern, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Political Science)

As a result of climate change and several countries’ decisions to phase out nuclear power, several countries are currently facing the question of how to take effective action to secure energy provision for the future. However, reducing CO2 and replacing non-renewable energies with renewables to provide electricity faces a barrier of ‘social acceptance’, i.e., support for targets and measures from both the political elite and the public. This dissertation focuses on the role of citizens. It answers the questions of why citizens matter in energy policy, how they form opinions on different policies, and how their opinions can be influenced and manipulated. It provides insights into how the political elite can design energy policy proposals in order to ensure public support, and also discusses the degree to which citizens participate in this conversation. Furthermore, this work shows which political processes are behind these energy policies, argues for a multidimensional approach to decision-making, and analyses which policy elements are relevant for citizens.